Yanks vs. Rays Series Preiview

Yankees vs. Rays

(4 Games)

The Yanks and Rays face off for the first time this season in a 4-game weekend series at Yankee Stadium. Last year the Yanks won the season series 10 - 8.

As for the bad blood between the two teams, both Hank Steinbrenner and Joe Girardi feel that it won't be an issue. "I feel it's over," Girardi said. "Those things are going to happen and you move on. No one wants to have players suspended, no one wants to have players hurt, but it's part of the game."

"No way. That's just baseball, and there's certainly no problem from our end, so I'm sure it's no problem on their end," Steinbrenner said.

MATCHUPS

Game 1 - Friday @ 7:05 (YES): RHP Ian Kennedy vs. RHP Andy Sonnanstine
Game 2 - Saturday @ 1:05 (YES): LHP Andy Pettitte vs. RHP Edwin Jackson
Game 3 - Sunday @ 1:05 (YES): RHP Chien-Ming Wang vs. RHP James Shields
Game 4 - Monday @ 7:05 (YES/ESPN): RHP Mike Mussina vs. RHP Jason Hammel

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yankees: Alex Rodriguez - Last season he hit .323 8 HR and drove in 23 against the Rays.

Rays: Carl Crawford - Last season he hit .380 against the Yanks.

INJURY REPORT

Yankees:
- C Jorge Posada is listed as day-to-day with a sore right shoulder.
- LHP Andy Pettitte is on the 15-day DL, but will pitch on Saturday.

Rays:
- LHP Scott Kazmir is on the 15-day DL with with an elbow injury.
- OF Rocco Baldelli is on the 60-day DL with a mitochondrial disorder.
- IF Ben Zobrist is on the 15-day DL with a broken thumb.
- OF Cliff Floyd has a sore knee and is day-to-day, but started on Thursday.